FDFA State Secretary Alexandre Fasel holds political consultations with Italy
Bern, 29.05.2026 — On 29 November 2026, the state secretary of the FDFA, Alexandre Fasel, held political consultations with his Italian counterpart in Bern. His talks with the secretary general of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Riccardo Guariglia, focused on bilateral relations, current European policy issues and international developments.
In Bern, the delegations led by Mr Fasel and Mr Guariglia discussed the close cooperation between Switzerland and Italy. The focus was on economic affairs, cross-border relations and cooperation in the area of migration, particularly with regard to the Dublin procedure. Both sides welcomed the recent progress made in various bilateral dossiers, including the entry into force of the protocol of amendment to the cross-border commuters agreement on remote working. The management of the fire disaster in Crans-Montana was also discussed.
The talks also focused on European policy. The Swiss delegation provided information on the ongoing work on relations between Switzerland and the EU and the domestic political stages for the package of agreements to stabilise and further develop Swiss–EU relations (Bilaterals III). The EU steel measures were also discussed. Both sides highlighted the importance of stable, constructive relations between Switzerland and the EU.
The delegations also exchanged views on current international developments, in particular the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and transatlantic relations. Security issues in Europe and the inclusive role of the OSCE, which Switzerland is chairing this year, were also discussed.
The consultations underscore the importance of relations between Switzerland and Italy, which are characterised by shared values, a common language and a dense network of political, economic and social ties. Italy is Switzerland's fourth most important European trading partner with an annual trade volume of over CHF 56 billion, of which around 40% is accounted for by the border regions.